UW Medicine Joins 30-Site Phase 3 Brenipatide Trial for Alcohol-Use Disorder
Updated
Updated · UW Medicine Newsroom · Jun 4
UW Medicine Joins 30-Site Phase 3 Brenipatide Trial for Alcohol-Use Disorder
1 articles · Updated · UW Medicine Newsroom · Jun 4
Summary
UW Medicine in Seattle is running a Phase 3 trial of brenipatide for moderate to severe alcohol-use disorder and has already met its enrollment target as the only Pacific Northwest site.
The 14-month, double-blind study will compare the GLP-1/GIP drug with a placebo in adults ages 18 to 75, testing whether it cuts alcohol cravings and changes drinking patterns.
Researchers launched the trial after early evidence suggested GLP-1 medicines may blunt addiction by acting on the brain’s mesolimbic reward pathway, beyond their established use in weight loss and diabetes.
A positive result could support an FDA approval decision for alcohol-use disorder, potentially adding a new medication option in a field where patients often relapse after repeated attempts to cut down or quit.
If a weight-loss drug can treat alcoholism, what other brain functions might it unexpectedly alter?
Could a monthly shot to reduce cravings redefine what successful recovery from alcoholism looks like?
Brenipatide and the Future of Alcohol Use Disorder: Phase 3 Trial Results, Scientific Rationale, and Societal Implications
Overview
The Brenipatide Phase 3 clinical trial is a major step forward in treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), focusing on adults with moderate-to-severe AUD who struggle to control their drinking. Recently expanded to Seattle, with UW Medicine as a key site, the trial gives local patients access to a promising new therapy. Early research suggests brenipatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, could offer more effective results than current treatments. The study aims to see if brenipatide can help people reduce their alcohol intake and maintain these changes, offering hope for those who have not succeeded with existing options.